Meet Ishika Poddar and Smirti Agarwal, Co-Founders at Femiliarize, a Kolkata-based positive community for the personal development of women.
It’s never too late to start, and it’s never too early either. Making this adage their motto in life, Ishika and Smriti, two 19-year-old B. Com students at St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata founded Femiliarize in July 2020. When the entire world was on lockdown, and people’s dependence on the virtual world grew, these two had their “eureka” moment, and the rest is history.
As certified digital marketers, and in the quest to make a difference in society, they created Femiliarize. It is an Instagram-based “community where women can be inspired and empowered to invest in their own growth! The curation of the platform is in sync with the narrative of motivation and growth. To foster it all, we cover stories of phenomenal women who have shattered all stereotypes and also extend our services to small business owners. To date, we have worked with over 60 women entrepreneurs, 40+ small businesses and inspired over 5500 people. The platform has even set up their own design and branding studio as part of the initiative.”
They both swear by the mantra of “never stop growing.” Their growth mindset has inspired them to launch a platform for women to showcase their talent. They want to contribute to society and become a valuable member of the community.
The response to their venture has been overwhelmingly positive. They have featured several eminent personalities on their platform, including Preeyam Budhia, Business Development Head, Patton Group, Dr. Radhika Batra, Forbes Asia 30 under 30 (2019), and Karina Oliani, the Guinness Book of world records holder for the traverse over the largest lava lake. With each interview, they get to learn something new and unique. This leads them to believe that knowledge has no bounds. It inspires them to keep going and learn as much as they can. Women all over India and the world have excelled in every sector they have set foot in, and Femilizarize is attempting to bring them to light in order to motivate us all. They are striving to make their stories heard.
Ishika and Smriti found their first mentors in their parents who have been there for them every step of the way. They are grateful to their friends who believed in them and turned into their critics, pushing them to do better. When it comes to dealing with criticism, they believe that the key is to learn from the critical feedback and focus on the constructive ones. You must continue to grow and improve yourself. Every day, strive to be a better version of yourself.
Although they are fairly new to the business world, Ishika and Smriti’s approach astounds even the most seasoned entrepreneurs. They have faced challenges along the way, but they refuse to give in to uncertainties. When such situations arise, they weigh all of their options and choose the most practical course of action. For them, it is always about ideating new and creative solutions. If only all the entrepreneurs thought like that.
When asked to share an inspirational message with their readers and potential entrepreneurs, they say, “To anyone who is starting their own venture- we just want to say GO FOR IT!. To start your own venture requires courage and passion, and if you have that then you can handle anything that comes your way It won’t always be all sunny and rainbows, there will be storms, but it is your consistency and determination that will keep you going and help you survive the highs and lows.”